Hungarian radio frequencies

In September, the Court reinforced its earlier decision regarding radio frequencies tenders. In the memorable Klub Radio decision, the court objected that the tender application of the winning Autoradio was not signed properly, i.e. notall pages of the document were signed.

The Media Authority interpreted this as a rule, which says that each and every page, including the empty backsides of the sheets, shall be signed in the tender documentation, and annulled the whole tender, disqualifying all applications.

What you might think would contradict to rational thought, was reinforced last week in court: indeed, the backsides of the sheets shall be signed as well, said the court in another case against Radio Rumba.

Another commercial radio station, Neo FM terminated during the summer, because it was unable to pay the licence fees. The licence fees offered by Neo Fm and its competitor, Class FM, were held unreasonable high by then-ORTT chief László Majtényi, who resigned as a symbol of his disagreement. Class FM was sponsored by the main state advertiser, Szerencsejáték Zrt (the national lottery company), and could fulfil its payment obligations. Szerencsejáték Zrt. did not advertise in Neo FM despite having received invitations to make an offer at a very reasonable price.

Addition: on 26th September, the Capital High Court declared that the Media Council did not have the right to annull Klubradio’s tender application for formal reasons after having accepted it valid for the tender. The decision is final. The Media Council defies the decision.